Little Bemidji Lake
Becker County, Minnesota293 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Little Bemidji Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- 58 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Little Bemidji Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 12.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 58 ft. Surface area: 292.88 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 17, 2023 caught 2.33 walleye per gill net at Little Bemidji Lake. DNR survey details →
Little Bemidji Lake is a 293-acre mesotrophic lake in Becker County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 58 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 16 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 83 other monitored lakes in Becker County, Little Bemidji Lake ranks #49 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2023-09-19. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Little Bemidji Lake covers about 290 acres in Becker County. It has 2 public boat landings, so a lakefront rental is not the only way to get a boat on the water. The median ice-out date is April 14, which is when the open-water season begins. Vrbo is where to look for cabins and lake homes around Little Bemidji Lake, and Booking.com and Expedia search hotels near the lake for your dates.
What Little Bemidji Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water12.1 ft of visibility
- Boat launch2 documented ramps
- Fishing16 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 14
- Deep water58 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Little Bemidji Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota DNR and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Little Bemidji Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Little Bemidji Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Good clarity, visible to about 12.1 ft. Phosphorus 11 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 2.7 µg/L. TSI 40.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 12.1ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 11µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 2.7µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 40 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Little Bemidji Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 17, 2023 caught 2.33 walleye per gill net at Little Bemidji Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Little Bemidji Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 4 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
12 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-07-17 (Standard Survey).
12 surveys on file · most recent 2023-07-17 (Standard Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 15.49 | 2–8 in 2023-07-17 | 0.13 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 13.85 | 5–9 in 2023-07-17 | 0.15 lb |
| Tullibee (Cisco) | 10.77 | 7–16 in 2023-07-17 | 1.24 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and is not a weekly bite report.
Length Distributions
Number of fish caught at each inch class in the most recent survey that recorded lengths. Red dashed line marks an approximate trophy threshold for that species.
Bluegill
Yellow Perch
Tullibee (Cisco)
From the 2023-07-17 survey
Little Bemidji is a lightly developed, 293-acre lake in north central Becker County, within the Ottertail River Watershed. The surrounding watershed is primarily mixed hardwood and conifer forest, with light development. There is a resort on the northwest shore and a public access on the west central shore. Boat…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Little Bemidji Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Little BemidjiFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Little Bemidji (1216)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Little BemidjiFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Little BemidjiPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
58 ft
Surface area
293 acres
Shoreline
3.1 mi
Littoral zone
20%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
48 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,496 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Little Bemidji LakePublic
- Rainbow ResortSemi-private
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Little Bemidji Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Little Bemidji Lake in Becker County, Minnesota — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.
Top-rated places to stay near Little Bemidji Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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Follow Little Bemidji Lake’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Little Bemidji Lake
- → Little Bemidji Lake fishing: DNR survey catch rates, species & stocking
- → Little Bemidji Lake fishing forecast & best times (species outlook + 14-day solunar calendar)
- → Little Bemidji Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
- → Is it safe to eat fish from Little Bemidji Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
Water Quality Trend: Worsening
Based on 4 years of monitoring (2022–2025).
Water clarity
Worsening4 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+4.5 µg/L/yr4 years
Chlorophyll-a
Worsening+3.39 µg/L/yr4 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 14
Earliest Apr 4, 2021 · Latest Apr 26, 2020
Typical ice-in
Dec 2
Earliest Nov 23, 2003 · Latest Dec 8, 2004
Most recent ice-out
Apr 6
2024
19 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Little Bemidji Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Little Bemidji Lake (completed 1938), built primarily for recreation on the Otter Tail River; gravity-type dam, 9 ft tall and 50 ft long.
- Surface area
- 290 ac
- Normal storage
- 12,480 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 13,312 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 45.3 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- MNDNR
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MN00025 · Operator website
Nearby Lakes in Becker County
Frequently asked questions about Little Bemidji Lake
Where is Little Bemidji Lake?
- Little Bemidji Lake is a lake in Becker County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Little Bemidji Lake?
- Little Bemidji Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 12.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 58 ft. Surface area: 292.88 acres.
Is Little Bemidji Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Little Bemidji Lake?
- Little Bemidji Lake has a maximum depth of 58 feet. The lake covers 292.88 acres.
What fish are in Little Bemidji Lake?
- Fish species found in Little Bemidji Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Little Bemidji Lake is located in Becker County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Little Bemidji Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 17, 2023 caught 2.33 walleye per gill net at Little Bemidji Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Little Bemidji Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 4 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
When does Little Bemidji Lake thaw?
- Little Bemidji Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 14. Ice typically forms around Dec 2. The open water season is approximately 232 days.
Are there boat ramps on Little Bemidji Lake?
- Little Bemidji Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Little Bemidji Lake, Rainbow Resort. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Little Bemidji Lake?
- Little Bemidji Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Minnesota's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Little Bemidji Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Becker County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Top lakes and where to stay in the Park Rapids Area area
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its readings
Lakes in the Red River of the North Watershed, ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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State Parks Near Little Bemidji Lake
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Where this data comes from
40 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota (White Earth Band) (Tribal)
WEARTH_WQX40 samples · 2023
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Turbidity by Nephelometry
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.
Other records on this page
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate